Come Back: A Novel

What if you fled from your small-town home at 17? Would you want to go back? Vi Masters would rather eat nails. But what if your aunt begs you to perform at her 60th birthday bash? She cared for you like neither of your parents ever did. And something about her voice on the phone seems off? Vi canít say no. How bad can three days be? She can keep her secrets hidden that long. Canít she?

What if you know tongues are wagging all over town like they did when your daughter ran away - when family troubles should be private? Now she's back, Ben Johansen worries the girl will shame him again in the eyes of the Iowa town he reveres.

What if youíve schemed and plotted to get the perfect life? But your stepdaughter could ruin it all? Would you be scared? Tammy Johansen is. Down to her bones. What if Ben finds out Tammy has always known why Vi ran? Tammy's built her life around loving Ben. What if he wonít forgive her? What then?

What if the girl you worked so hard to get over waltzes into the diner where youíre having breakfast? What if you know you should hate her for the suspicion her disappearance rained down on you? But you canít? What if you know neither of you is the same person you were? Would you still want her? Nate Barlow does. Against his better judgment.

What if you and Nate pinky-swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Would you keep your oath and risk her last drop of hope? Amid worries over her aunt's dementia, and facing down her prickly father, Vi's sure Nate won't give her a second chance. Not when he learns what she's done.